Motion-picture projecting system



Feb. 8, 1949. F. H. wHn'ELEY MOTION-PICTURE PROJECTING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1945v Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNITED s'i'A'rss 'PATENT f oFFica N Application September 17, 1945, Serial No. .618,878

, portant nature and include themanner of incorporating the invention in equipment with which the motion picture film or stereoscopic or orthographic nature may be employed te obtain the desired result of presenting a smooth running, uninterrupted, and ickeriess picture tothe observer.

Other objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following specification. referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a diagrammatical view illustrating a Amotion picture projector made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary'side elevational view illustrating a portion of the driving mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line III---llI of Fig.` 1, looking. in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view 'of a motion picture projector, made pursuant to a modified form of'the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 4 and illustrating a portion of the driving mechanism; and

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view taken on line VI--VI of Fig; 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Much effort has heretofore been exerted in an attempt to obtain satisfactory fiick'erless screen images from stereospic and Orthographie motion picture systems, but without satisfactory re` suits. Complicated mechanisms have been designed but due to maladjustment and their failure to synchronize their intercepting actions, have failed in their purpose.

The projectors illustrated in the accompanying drawings are capable of creating successive images on a screen by holding in a stationary condition, 4the frame of the film containing the image illuminating the screen and the frame of the film. containing theimage that is to succeed it during a transitional period. The system also is capable oiinstimtaneously removing a-portion of the screen image as the exact corresponding portion of the image to follow fills the vacancy created by said removal in such manner that no` interval of space occurs between the departing and arriving images or frame portions, while the aforementioned transition takes place.

. The systems about to be described are capable of projecting anew image on the screen as the old one vanishes in such fashion as to reproduce Ithe. effect of normal dbservation of motion, all without flicker of any character due to failure to maintain constant and complete illumination of the projection screen.

l In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3, four vdistinct strips of film I0, i2, Il and il are driven from a common drive shaft Il. The four films comprise two 'identical sets, films il and Il being a set like to the set of fllms i2 and I6. A lens 20 is positioned in front of film i0 and lenses 22, 24 and 26 are respectively positioned in front of films i2, i4 and It. These films are each retained in suitableguides 2l, all of which are of substantially the same form and character and serve the purpose of directing the nlm in its'fdesired path of travel across the respective lenses.

Films I0, I2, I4 and It are disposed in a common vertical plane behind their lenses, and the specially formed shutter plate III is rotatably mounted on shaft 32 in front of all of said lenses. The size of shutter plate 3l! is such as to cover all of lenses 20, 22, 24 and 26, and aperture 3l is so contoured as to cover a portion of one of a pair of these said lenses simultaneously as the corresponding portion of the other oi' the same pair is uncovered. The ends of aperture N designated by the numerals IQ and 3l are parallel with each other while the sides 40 and l2 are arcuate and concentric with the axis of rotation of plate Bland with the path wherein all of saidlenses 2l, 22, 24 vand 28 are disposed. The length of aperture 84 or the distance between ends 3B' and Il lthereof, is precisely the same as the distance between the axes of alternate lenses. In the illustrated embodiment lenses 22 and 26 are associated with aperture Il and the said aperture is covering and uncovering corresponding portions thereof.

Shutter 30 is driven by power applied to drive shaft Il from any suitable source not here shown. Said shaft i8 is operably joined to shaft I2 through the medium of shaft 44 and bevel gears 4I and Il in mesh respectively with similar gears shaft 16.

amas

n ma n. am u u mounted angina n and gear 62 is secured to'drive shaft Il.

nach mm Ie, n, u and It im e driving'- sprocket 64, 66, 68 and 68 respectively, each rotated to move their respective films in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 1. Shaft I8 has a Geneva gear assembly comprising the driven member 62 having pins 64, 68, 60 and 10 extending laterally therefrom and to each side thereof. The Geneva stop gears 12 and 14 operatively engaley pins 66 and 10 and pins 88 and 84 respectiv Gear 12 is mounted on driven shaft 18 while gear 14 is mounted on driven shaft 18. Shaft 18 supports sprocket 64 and sprocket 68 is driven simultaneously with sprocket 64 through the medium of a gear train, generally designated by the numeral 80 and comprising four bevel gears and their interconnecting shafts as clearly revealed in Fig. 1. Sprockets 66 and 60 are simultaneously driven to direct films I2 and I6 past their respective lenses because of the connection with driven Shaft 16' is directly connected to sprocket 66 and a train of gears broadly designated '82 forms a medium of interconnection between sprockets 66 and 60.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4, and 6, but two picture lms are employed with mechanism including shutter |00 having aperture |02 therein of a form clearly shown in Fig. 4.

Aperture |02 is of a xed length to correspond to the distance between the centers of lens systems |04 and |06. The ends |08 and IIO of aperture |02 are radial and in alignment while the sides II2 and II4 of aperture |02, are concentric and a distance apart sufficient to present a clear opening for the passage of rays directly through either of lens systems |04 and |06 as aperture |02 passes the-axes thereof.

Shutter |00 is driven by drive shaft I I6 through the medium of gears II8, |20, |22 and |24. Geneva driving gear |26 mounted on shaft |I6 has pins |26, |28, |30 and |32, in mesh with stop gears |34 and |36 operatively associated with shaft |38 and tubular shaft |40 respectively. Shaft |38 extends to sprocket |42 to drive the same and shaft 40 connects with sprocket |44- all for the purpose of intermittently driving lms 46 and |48 in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 4.

Images |60 are on picture film |46 and images |62 are on picture film |48. The films |46 and |48 are exposed through the use of dual lens camera, one lens system whereof is reversed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6. In other words, the images of one film in the camera are completely reversed top to bottom and side to side gom the position of the images in the companion Assuming that the illm |48 has images |62 of normal position, it will be apparent that images |60 of lm |46 are reversed-thus, when the pictures are being projected, the films |46 and |48 may be lcaused to travel in the direction of the arrows to attain the objects of the invention and to produce the results identical to those obtainable when using the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

It is clear that in order to attain the objects of this invention, particularly as to elimination of flicker, it is necessary to reverse images |50. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the upper half of image |62 is being projected as the lower half of image |60 is projected, to present a full image on the screen.

Operation 'Reverting now to the motion picture projectingsystem made in accordance with the preferred form of the invention, illustratedv schematically and in a more or less ditical way. in Figs. 1. 2 and 3.

Shutter 30 is constantly rotated by-drive shaft I8 and the parts transmitting motion to shaft 82,

and in the condition illustrated in Fig. 1, aperframe behind lens 22 .carries a picture that was taken simultaneously with that in the frame be` hind lens 26. Due to the position of lenses 22 and 26 therefore, offsetting of lms I2 and I6 to insure this relation of parts, must be done when the projector is threaded.

As the covered portion of lens 22 is uncovered through the movement of shutter 30, the uncovered portion of lens 26 is progressively covered. Thus, a peeling of the projected picture occurs and the projection screen is constantly and completely illuminated. No time interval can possibly occur due to the formation of aperture 34 and its relation to lenses 22 and 26 on the one hand, and lenses 20 and 24 on the other hand.

It is important to maintain edges 36 and 38 in parallelism and at a distance apart equal to the distance between the axes of adjacent projecting lenses 20, 22, 24 and 26 as computed on arc extending through the center of these lenses. The linear direction of travel of the intercepting action of these said edges are identical. In this connection referring to Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, note that lens system |04 reverses the image and therefore, `the intercepting action of edges |08 and I I0 are in the same direction.

At this juncture it is notable that ends 36 and 38 of aperture 34 are in parallelism and that the same portions of the image of the frames behind lenses 22 and 26 are simultaneously uncovered and covered respectively.

Films I2 and I6 are stationary while aperture 34 moves before lenses 22 and 26 and completely past both of said lenses. During the time aperture 34 was passing lenses 22 and 26 behind which are disposed films I2 and I6, films I0 and I4 were being advanced two frames by stop gear 14 and driving member 62 and its pins 64 and 68. As aperture 34 moves to open lens 20 and progresses to open lens 24, films I0 and |4 are stationary. As soon as lens 22 is left by end 36 of aperture 34 lms |2 and I6 are advanced in the direction of the arrows by stop gear 12, member 62 and its pins 66 and 10.

The frame of film I0 -which is behind lens 20 as end 36 moved across lens 22, is the next succeeding frame in the sequence of exposures from that behind lens 20 when aperture 34 is moving to allow projection of the images from said frames onto the screen.

Films I0 and I4 are stationary while aperture 34 moves before lenses 20 and 24 and completely past both of said lenses. During the time aperture 34 was passing lenses 20 and 24 behind which are disposed lms I0 and I4, films I.2 and I6 were being advanced two frames by the aforementioned Geneva gearing arrangement including member 66, stop gear 12 and the pins on driving member 62. As soon as end 36 of aperture 34 leaves lens 24. nlms I and I4 are advanced two names.

l'rom this point on. the cycle of operation is repeated to insure like operation vuntil the nlm 'is run.

Ifit is desired to double the frequency at which companionate. frames are projected upon the screen with respect to the frequency withwhich successive frames of nlm are projected on the screen, itis only necessary to adjust the gear ratios so that sprockets 54 and 50 and sprockets 54 and 00 move one frame with each movement of shafts 'I4 and 10 respectively instead of two frames as formerly described.

If it is desired to reduce the frequency at which companionate nlm frames are projected' or compared to the frequency at which successive film frame are projected such may be done by threading the two sets of nlms so that companionate nlms are adjacent to each other, i. e., nlms I0 and |2 are identical with each other but companionate to nlm |4 and Il which are in turn identical with each other. The nlms are threaded so that frame lies behind lens 20, succeeding frame 2 of identical lnlm I2 lies behind lens 22, succeeding frame 0 of film I4 (companionate to nlms I0 and I2) lies behind lens 26, and the succeeding 4 of nlms I0 lies behind lens 24. Sprockets 54 and 50 are then geared to move in unison and to move nlms I0 and I2 four frames forward with each intermittent motion. Sprocket wheels 58 and B0 vare constructed likewise with respect to nlms |4 and I0. It will be observed that with this arrangement, the frequency of change between companionate films will occur at' one-half the frequency that occurs between succeeding frames.

It is realized that the provision of four nlms and advancing the same two frames at a time presents some waste film. However, this method eliminates the necessity of a special printing process of removing alternate' frames of one pair of the nlms and opposite alternate frames on the other pair of films. There is always a likelihood of damage to the 'filmsduring such process and spacing the frames in perfect co-ordination with the marginal driving perforations thereof is extremely dinicult. Furthermore, slower film speed is made possible than the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6 incluslveand the necessity of different types of `lenses as at |04 and |00 of the latter is obviated.

The use of two lenses makes it dinicult to obtain identical results, particularly with respect to light intensity, otherwise this latter form is advantageous due to saving in nlm.

The operation of structure illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is such as to insure constant and complete illumination of the-projection screen as was the case with the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2

and 3.

In the position illustratedin Fig. 4, the upper half of lens system |00 and the upper half of lens system |04 is projecting the upper half of image |52 and the lower half of image |50 respectively from the adjacent frames onto the projection screen. Due to the reversing nature of lens system |04, the image |50 behind lenses |04, is reversed for projection. mages |50 and |52, therefore, will be normal to each other after leaving their respective lens systems |04 and |08, and the said images are so illustrated at the lenses in Fig. 4. Otherwise, if the lenses 04 and |00 were identical, the upper half of images |50 and |52 would be superimposed on the screen when disc |00 is in the position shown in Fig. 4.

Flims |45 and |48 are stationary and, due to the timing of- Geneva gearing at driving member |20.nlm |willbemoved onefranieinths direction of the arrow after edge ||0 of aperture |02 passes lens |00. Film |40, however. re'- mains stationary during the time that aperture 5 |02 is traversing lens |04. By the time edge |00 of aperture |02 reaches lens |00, the next succeeding frame has been moved to position behind lens |00 and the projectedl picture on the screen 4is comprised of the lower half of the frames behind lenses |04 and |04.v This because of the reversing lens system |04 and the reversedposition of nlm |40. j

In the condition of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4, the upper half of the frame of nim |40 III half of the frame of nlm |40 underlying lens |04 isbeing projected for the same reasons set forth.

After shutter |00 moves its aperture |02 past n lens |04, actuating mechanism for nlm |40l will advance said nlm in the direction of the arrow. one frame. Thus, the films are intermittently adfvanced to present'related and successive frames alternately to create the peeling action and $5 stereoscopic effect so desirable in motion picture projection systems of this type.

In vthe event it is desired to use conventional nlm in the projector shown in Fig. 4, for the.

purpose of eliminating nicker, said conventional a0 nlm is threaded the same as illustrated, but the l istics of the projecting system will be different g from those illustrated because of commercial operative requirements, but the objects are `fulfilled through use of the two forms of projectors'illustrated. v

Having thus described the invention, what vis claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters vlfatent is: y

1. In a motion picture projecting system ot the character described, a plurality of independent picture films arranged in pairs, the nlms of each pair having been simultaneously made of the same subject, said nlms being divided into frames and arranged in side-by-side relation 'with stretches thereof in a common plane; a projecting lens to one side of each nlm respectively; mechanism for applying step-by-step movement tothe nlms to draw the same past. their respective lenses; a single rotatable opaque'shutter plate, having an aperture formed therethrough, mounted in front of the lenses and of a size greatenough to intercept light passing through all of said lenses, said nlms of each pair being onset one frame, the aperture of the shutter being formed to progressively cover the lensof one nlm of a pair ofnlms as the lens of the other nlm of the v pair is uncovered, said covering action of the shutter being such as tok intercept and uncover "respectively, like portions of the images being the pairs of nlms.

2.1In a motion picture projecting system of the character described, a plurality of pairs of independent but like picture nlms divided into framesandarransedinside-by-side relation with underlying lens |08 isbeing projected but the lower as starvev projected from the frames behind the lenses of l 7 v. v x like stretches thereofA in a substantially common vertical plane; a projecting lens to one side of each nlmstretch respectively, to register with the individual frames o! the nlms, the lenses for the stretches of each pair of illms being vertically voiiset to register with successive frames of the pairof films whereby when one lens is projectingl t movement to the iilms; and means for constantly rotating the shutter, said aperture being formed with parallel edges a distance apart equal to the distance between the axes of the lenses on an arc having a radius equal to the distance between the axis of rotation of the shutter and the axes ot said lenses.

3. In a motion picture projecting system of the .character described.- a plurality of pairs of independent but like picture illms divided into frames and arranged in side-by-side relation with like stretches thereof in a substantially common vertical plane; a projecting lens to one side ot each film stretch respectively, to register with the individual frames of the illms, the lenses for the stretches of each pair of films being vertically oilset to register with successive vtrames of the pair of mms whereby when one lens is projecting an image from one frame oi one illm ot one pair of illms, the other lens is in register with next succeeding frame of the other fllm of the said pair ofillms; a single rotatable opaque shutter plate having an aperture formed therethrough, mounted in front of the lenses and of a size great enough to intercept light passing through all of the lenses; means for imparting step-by-step movement to the illms; and means for constantly rotating the shutter, said aperture being formed with parallel edges a distance apart equal to the distance between the axes of the l s on an arc having a radius equal to the distance between .the axis of rotation oi the shutter and the axes oi said lenses, said means for imparting step-by-step movement to the lms being adapted to hold the ilims stationary so long as any part of the lenses for the pair of illms are capable of projecting images through the aperture of the shutter.

4. In a motiorfr/ picture projecting system of the character described, a plurality of pairs of independent but like picture lms divided into frames and arranged in side-by-side relation with like stretches thereof in a substantially common vertical plane; 4a projecting lens to one side of each lm stretch respectively, to register with the individual frames of the illms, the lenses for the stretches of each pair of lms being vertically oiIset to register with succesive frames of the pair of films whereby when one lens is projecting an image from one frame of one ilm of one pair of iilms, the other lens is in register with the next succeeding frame of the other film of the said pair of films; a single rotatable opaque shutter plate having an aperture formed therethrough, mounted in front'of the lenses and of a sire great enough to intercept light passing through all of the lenses; means for impartingstep-by-step movement to the lms; and means for constantly rotating the shutter, said aperture being formed with parallel edges a distance apart equal to the distance between the axes of the lenses on an arc having a radius equal to the distance between the axis of rotation of the shutter and the axes of said lenses, the linear direction of travel o! the parallel edges of the shutter forming the opening in the shutter being identical as the edges pass across the said lenses respectively.

5. In a motion picture projecting system oi' the character described, a plurality of pairs of independent but like picture illms divided into frames and arranged in side-by-side relation with like stretches thereof in a substantially common vertical plane; a projecting lens to one side of each illm stretch respectively, to register with the individual frames of the lms, the lenses for the stretches of each pair of films being vertically oil'set to register with successive frames of the pair of illms whereby when one lens is projecting an image from one frame of one illm of one pair of i'llms, the other lens is in register with the next succeeding frame of the other illm of the said pair of iilms; a single rotatable opaque shutter plate having an aperture formed therethrough, mounted in iront of the lenses and of a size great enough to intercept light passing through all of the lenses; means for imparting step-by-step movement to the films; and means for constantly rotating the shutter, said aperture being formed with parallel edges a distance apart equal to the distance between the axes of the lenses on an arc having a radius equal to the distance between the axis of rotation of the shutter and the axes of said lenses, said means for imparting step-by-step movement to the lms being adapted to hold the films stationary so long as any part of the lenses for the pair of lms are capable of projecting vimages through the aperture of the shutter. the linear direction of travel of the parallel edges of the shutter forming the opening in the shutter being identical as the edges pass across the said lenses respectively, the said means for imparting step-by-step movement to the iilms being designed to move the films when the lenses are covered by the shutter.

FRED HOWARD WHITELEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 904,212 Moran Nov. 17, 1908 986,163 Giordano Mar. 7, 1911 1,247,646 Craig Nov. 27, 1917 1,259,365 Cooper Mar. 12, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 414,924 France July l, 1910 

